Astronomy

Astronomy begins with a look at the starry sky and goes far beyond that. Why are there seasons? How do the phases of the moon come about? Which stars are there and how do we know that they are surrounded by planets? How are stars formed and how old can they get? How big is the universe, how did it come into being and what does its future look like? Many people are enthusiastic about these questions and there is potential for exciting lessons at school.

Teaching is an exciting, demanding and important profession. Given the shortage of pupils interested in science, this is particularly true of teaching Astronomy, which is an easy way to build on existing interest at school.

However, the profession also poses everyday challenges. The well-coordinated content of the degree programme provides targeted preparation for this. The teacher training programme in Astronomy provides a solid technical background in all school-relevant topics and gives an insight into modern astronomical observation methods and research. Astronomy didactics provides all the necessary theoretical background information on learning processes, but is very practically orientated with school astronomy observation exercises, an introduction to modern teaching media and its own astronomy teaching units at extracurricular learning locations.

This subject contains an indispensably large proportion of Mathematics and Physics. Nevertheless, the tender is expressly aimed at all those interested in astronomy and astrophysics, regardless of their choice of subject in their undergraduate degree programme. Necessary Mathematics knowledge can be acquired in the compulsory elective area.

In the third teaching degree programme, you will have the opportunity to teach Astronomy as an additional subject at school. You complete the programme with an additional examination or examination in another subject. The degree programme consists of various types of courses, e.g. seminars, lectures or exercises, internships.

As a future Astronomy teacher at the University of Jena, you will study subject content and the associated subject didactics in the extension programme. You have already acquired the Educational Science content in the first state examination. A total of 60 credit points (ECTS)|ECTS credits (1 ECTS = 30 hours of attendance, preparation and follow-up work|follow-up activity, study and assessed coursework and examinations) must be completed. These are divided into 45 CP study content and 15 CP for preparatory modules for the additional examination or examination in another subject (10 CP subject examinations, 5 CP subject didactics examination).

The programme focuses on the following areas:

• Didactic content: all topics relating to the subject-specific didactics of Astronomy such as student perceptions, use of media, interest in Astronomy teaching and much more on the theoretical background, but also practical implementation such as the preparation, execution and evaluation of school astronomical observations as well as initial own teaching experience in extracurricular teaching situations
• Internships: Astronomical observations in the observatory
• Specialised training: Modules on Introduction to Astronomy, Astronomical Observation Techniques, Physics of Stars, Physics of Planetary Systems etc.
• Electives: Solar system, celestial mechanics, laboratory astrophysics, Milky Way system, neutron stars, extragalactics, cosmology and much more.

Career opportunities:

• General education: The typical route into school practice is via the traineeship (Referendariat). In this phase, you develop your practical teaching skills on the basis of your degree. In view of the current shortage of teachers in Astronomy, graduates are more sought-after than ever. Employment opportunities are therefore currently excellent wherever Astronomy is taught as a subject.
• Adult education: Outside of the school system, opportunities are open to you as a teacher of Astronomy in the subject area|field of adult education.

The teaching qualification completed in Thuringia is recognised|to credit in all other federal states upon formal request to the respective Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. You can apply to the Ministries of Education and Cultural Affairs of other federal states both for the preparatory service (Referendariat) and for employment in the teaching profession (after completing the second state examination). You can obtain more detailed information on this from the respective Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs.

• Motivation to work with children and young people in your future career
• Willingness to study - parallel to the first degree|first undergraduate degree or professional life
• Very good knowledge of the German language
• Interest in scientific issues
• Solid knowledge of school maths
• Enjoy puzzling, thinking and observing
• Ability to work in a team is a great advantage